A balance transfer credit card can help you pay down existing high-interest debts from another credit card. The best business credit cards for balance transfers are those that offer introductory 0% Annual Percentage Rate (APR) periods and have $0 or low balance transfer fees. Consider the annual fees, ongoing interest rates, and rewards when deciding which card is right for you. We include personal and regular business credit cards in our recommendations.
Here are the five best business credit cards for balance transfer transactions:
- BMO Business Platinum Credit Card: Overall best for 0% balance transfer APR for 18 months and rebates through Mastercard Easy Savings®
- Edward Jones Business Plus Mastercard: Best for $0 balance transfer fee and 0% APR for 12 months
- Capital One Spark Cash Select for Good Credit: Best for $0 balance transfer fee and unlimited 1.5% cash back
- Citi Simplicity® Card: Best personal card with interest-free balance transfers for 21 months
- PNC Visa Business Credit Card: Best for low ongoing APR and 0% balance transfer APR for 13 months
Overview of the Best Business Credit Cards for Balance Transfers
Best For | Annual Fee | Ongoing Rewards | Credit Needed | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
BMO Business Platinum Credit Card | 0% balance transfer APR for 18 months and rebates through Mastercard Easy Savings® | $0 | None | Good to Excellent | |
Edward Jones Business Plus Mastercard | $0 balance transfer fee and 0% APR for 12 months | $25, waived with at least one purchase | Up to 4x points | Good to Excellent | |
Capital One Spark Cash Select for Good Credit | $0 balance transfer fee and unlimited 1.5% cash back | $0 | Up to 5% cash back | Good | |
Citi Simplicity® Card | Personal card with interest-free balance transfers for 21 months | $0 | None | Good to Excellent | |
PNC Visa Business Credit Card | Low ongoing APR and 0% balance transfer APR for 13 months | $0 | None | Good to Excellent |
BMO Business Platinum Credit Card: Best for 0% Balance Transfer APR for 18 Months and Rebates Through Mastercard Easy Savings®
BMO Business Platinum Credit Card
BEST FOR:
Those with existing BMO checking accounts intending to make large purchases or transfers
- 0% introductory APR on purchases for 18 months from date of account opening
Pros
• 0% APR on purchases
• $0 annual fees
• Low ongoing APR compared to most other business credit cards
Cons
- Does not offer rewards for its new and existing cardholders
- BMO bank is located in only located in the following states: Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Arizona, and Florida.
- Extended warranty: Get double the original manufacturer’s―or United States store brand―warranty for up to one year on most new items you buy with your card. Note that these items must have an original manufacturer’s warranty of one year or less.
- Cellphone protection: Get up to $600 in cellphone protection after charging your monthly wireless telephone bill to your card. Note that terms and restrictions apply.
- Discounts on Intuit QuickBooks® and TurboTax®: Enjoy discounts on both Intuit QuickBooks® and TurboTax®, which can help streamline your accounting and simply your taxes. Note that terms and restrictions apply.
- 0% introductory APR on purchases for 18 months from date of account opening
Pros
• 0% APR on purchases
• $0 annual fees
• Low ongoing APR compared to most other business credit cards
Cons
- Does not offer rewards for its new and existing cardholders
- BMO bank is located in only located in the following states: Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Arizona, and Florida.
- Extended warranty: Get double the original manufacturer’s―or United States store brand―warranty for up to one year on most new items you buy with your card. Note that these items must have an original manufacturer’s warranty of one year or less.
- Cellphone protection: Get up to $600 in cellphone protection after charging your monthly wireless telephone bill to your card. Note that terms and restrictions apply.
- Discounts on Intuit QuickBooks® and TurboTax®: Enjoy discounts on both Intuit QuickBooks® and TurboTax®, which can help streamline your accounting and simply your taxes. Note that terms and restrictions apply.
Why We Like It
Business owners with active BMO business checking accounts intending to make significant purchases or balance transfers may consider this card. You can take advantage of a 0% introductory period on balance transfers and purchases for the first 18 months and up to 25% savings at over 40,000 merchants through the Mastercard Easy Savings®.
Other Benefits
- Add up to 20 employee cards at no additional cost
- Get up to $600 in cell phone protection after charging your monthly wireless telephone bill to the card
- Enjoy discounts on Intuit QuickBooks and TurboTax to help streamline your accounting and taxes
Who Should Consider It
- Businesses based where there are BMO branches Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Arizona, and Florida
- Those with BMO business checking accounts
- Registered corporations (S or C), limited liability companies (LLC), or sole proprietorships; nonprofit organizations are ineligible
Edward Jones Business Plus Mastercard®: Best for $0 Balance Transfer Fee & 0% APR for 12 Months
- 1.5 Loyalty Points for every $1 spent on eligible net purchases up to $40,000
- 2 Loyalty Points for every $1 spent on eligible net purchases over $40,000 in the same year
- 4 Bonus Loyalty Points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Edward Jones Rewards Travel Center
Pros
- Welcome offer
- Introductory 0% APR and $0 fee on balance transfers
- $0 annual fee option
Cons
- No 0% APR on purchases
- High purchase requirements to earn higher rewards
- Worldwide travel accident insurance
- Free credit score access
- Online and mobile banking
- Zero fraud liability
- Extended warranty and purchase protection
- 1.5 Loyalty Points for every $1 spent on eligible net purchases up to $40,000
- 2 Loyalty Points for every $1 spent on eligible net purchases over $40,000 in the same year
- 4 Bonus Loyalty Points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Edward Jones Rewards Travel Center
Pros
- Welcome offer
- Introductory 0% APR and $0 fee on balance transfers
- $0 annual fee option
Cons
- No 0% APR on purchases
- High purchase requirements to earn higher rewards
- Worldwide travel accident insurance
- Free credit score access
- Online and mobile banking
- Zero fraud liability
- Extended warranty and purchase protection
Why We Like It
This is the only card on our list that charges $0 for balances transferred within the first 60 days of account opening. It offers a 0% introductory period on balance transfers for the first 12 billing cycles. Also, the more you spend, the higher the rewards you can earn—you’ll receive 1.5% cash back (or 1.5 Loyalty Points®) for up to $40,000 worth of purchases in a 12-month cycle, then 2% cash back (or 2 Loyalty Points®) on your purchases over $40,000.
Other Benefits
- Earn 4 bonus Loyalty Points® per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Edward Jones Rewards Travel Center
- Get 15,000 bonus Loyalty Points® after spending $1,000 in eligible net purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account
- Get the annual fee waived after making at least one purchase to your account each year; otherwise, you will be charged $25
- Enjoy $0 foreign transaction fees
- Manage your account through Spend Analysis, which is a free online tool that can help track business expenses
Who Should Consider It
- Those wanting to save on balance transfer APR and balance transfer fees
- Those who usually spend more than $40,000 per year to take advantage of the premium rewards rate
Capital One Spark Cash Select for Good Credit: Best for $0 Balance Transfer Fee & Unlimited 1.5% Cash Back
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BEST FOR:
Businesses with good credit that want a 0% introductory APR and fixed 1.5% cash back rewards
- Unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back for your business on every purchase, everywhere - with no limits or category restrictions
Pros
- $0 annual, balance transfer, and foreign transaction fees
- Intro 0% APR on purchases
- Free employee cards
Cons
- No intro 0% APR on balance transfers
- No welcome offer
- High cash advance and penalty APRs
- Zero fraud liability: If your card is lost or stolen, you can get an emergency replacement and a cash advance
- Roadside assistance: Capital One offers services to help you during auto-related emergencies, such as jump-starting, tire changing, and towing
- Free employee cards: You can track employee spending while earning all the rewards from their purchases by issuing free employee cards. In addition, you can set customized spending limits for employee cards and see transactions as soon as they post
- Purchase records: You can quickly and securely download your purchase records in different formats, such as Quicken®, QuickBooks®, and Excel®
- Unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back for your business on every purchase, everywhere - with no limits or category restrictions
Pros
- $0 annual, balance transfer, and foreign transaction fees
- Intro 0% APR on purchases
- Free employee cards
Cons
- No intro 0% APR on balance transfers
- No welcome offer
- High cash advance and penalty APRs
- Zero fraud liability: If your card is lost or stolen, you can get an emergency replacement and a cash advance
- Roadside assistance: Capital One offers services to help you during auto-related emergencies, such as jump-starting, tire changing, and towing
- Free employee cards: You can track employee spending while earning all the rewards from their purchases by issuing free employee cards. In addition, you can set customized spending limits for employee cards and see transactions as soon as they post
- Purchase records: You can quickly and securely download your purchase records in different formats, such as Quicken®, QuickBooks®, and Excel®
Why We Like It
This card is designed for those with good credit standing who want to take advantage of $0 balance transfer fees at any time. It also lets you earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases and 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
Other Benefits
- Pay $0 annual and foreign transaction fees
- Take advantage of 0% APR on purchases for the first 12 months
- Enjoy more lenient credit requirements
Who Should Consider It
- Those wanting to save on credit costs
- Those who have good credit standing and could not qualify for other credit cards that require a higher credit score
Citi Simplicity® Card: Best Personal Card With Interest-free Balance Transfers for 21 Months
Citi Simplicity® Card
BEST FOR:
Startups who need a lengthy 0% APR period fund business expenses
- Citi Simplicity® Card doesn’t offer any rewards for its new and existing cardholders.
Pros
- One of the longest 0% APR periods available
- $0 annual fee
Cons
- No rewards for new and existing cardholders
- Cannot build business credit
- Flexible payment due date: You can choose your preferred due date at the beginning, middle, or end of the month. In addition, you have the flexibility of paying either the full balance or just the minimum payment due every month.
- Mastercard® Identity Theft Protection program: If you’re a victim of identity theft, this can help you resolve the matter.
- Zero liability protection: Zero liability protects you against unauthorized charges on your account. You won’t be responsible for a charge that you didn’t authorize.
- No additional fees: Citi® does not charge additional fees, such as late fees or penalty rate, on the Citi Simplicity® Card.
- Citi Simplicity® Card doesn’t offer any rewards for its new and existing cardholders.
Pros
- One of the longest 0% APR periods available
- $0 annual fee
Cons
- No rewards for new and existing cardholders
- Cannot build business credit
- Flexible payment due date: You can choose your preferred due date at the beginning, middle, or end of the month. In addition, you have the flexibility of paying either the full balance or just the minimum payment due every month.
- Mastercard® Identity Theft Protection program: If you’re a victim of identity theft, this can help you resolve the matter.
- Zero liability protection: Zero liability protects you against unauthorized charges on your account. You won’t be responsible for a charge that you didn’t authorize.
- No additional fees: Citi® does not charge additional fees, such as late fees or penalty rate, on the Citi Simplicity® Card.
Why We Like It
Business owners who could not yet qualify for a business credit card would want this personal credit card as it gives a 0% introductory APR for balance transfers for the first 21 months—the longest period among the listed cards. It also offers a 0% introductory period on purchases for the first 12 billing cycles from the date of account opening.
Other Benefits
- Enjoy $0 annual and late fees
- Get a 0% penalty rate in case you miss a payment
- Choose to pay your bill on any available due date, letting you enjoy the flexibility of paying your balance in full or just the minimum payment due each month
Who Should Consider It
- Those who don’t mind not earning rewards on purchases
- Those who don’t need to build business credit
PNC Visa® Business Credit Card: Best for Low Ongoing APR & 0% Balance Transfer APR for 13 Months
PNC Visa® Business Credit Card
BEST FOR:
Existing PNC Bank account holders that need to carry a balance
- $0 annual fee
- No rewards on puchases
- Online account management tools allow you to manage your business credit card activity
Pros
- $0 annual fee
- With an interest-free financing option on balance transfers
- 0% introductory APR useful for big purchases
- Easy to manage via account view
Cons
- No rewards for new and existing cardholders
- Can only apply online if you have an existing online bank account with PNC Bank
- With a high penalty interest rate
- Cash Flow Insight®: Helps you monitor and plan your cash flow, send invoices via email, get paid online, and manage payables.
- Travel accident insurance: You’re covered by travel accident insurance if you die or are seriously injured while traveling.
- Roadside Dispatch®: A pay-per-use roadside assistance program that provides services such as towing, tire changing, jump-starting, fuel delivery of up to five gallons, winching, and lockout services.
- Overdraft protection: You can set up your PNC Visa® Business Credit Card as overdraft protection for your PNC business checking account to ensure that you have funds when needed.
- $0 annual fee
- No rewards on puchases
- Online account management tools allow you to manage your business credit card activity
Pros
- $0 annual fee
- With an interest-free financing option on balance transfers
- 0% introductory APR useful for big purchases
- Easy to manage via account view
Cons
- No rewards for new and existing cardholders
- Can only apply online if you have an existing online bank account with PNC Bank
- With a high penalty interest rate
- Cash Flow Insight®: Helps you monitor and plan your cash flow, send invoices via email, get paid online, and manage payables.
- Travel accident insurance: You’re covered by travel accident insurance if you die or are seriously injured while traveling.
- Roadside Dispatch®: A pay-per-use roadside assistance program that provides services such as towing, tire changing, jump-starting, fuel delivery of up to five gallons, winching, and lockout services.
- Overdraft protection: You can set up your PNC Visa® Business Credit Card as overdraft protection for your PNC business checking account to ensure that you have funds when needed.
Why We Like It
This business credit card for balance transfer comes with a low starting APR—the lowest among all other credit cards featured in this article. It offers 0% introductory APR on balance transfers for the first 13 months when the balance is transferred within the first 90 days following account opening.
Other Benefits
- Enjoy a $0 annual fee
- Get access to Cash Flow Insight®, which lets you monitor your and your employees’ spending habits and plan and budget future business needs
- Benefit from robust controls, which let you set individual spending limits for your employee cards
Who Should Consider It
- Those who are okay with not earning ongoing rewards
- Those who may need to carry a balance from time to time
How We Selected the Best Balance Transfer Business Credit Cards
To select the best business card balance transfer offers, we first considered the length of the introductory 0% balance transfer APR. We also took into account transfer fees, annual fees, ongoing APRs, rewards, other features, and whether the card has a 0% APR offer on purchases.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
It’s a good idea if you need a longer period to pay off high-interest debts. So, a balance transfer credit card is best for business owners with existing debts from other cards. If you can qualify for small business credit cards with a zero-interest period on balance transfers, it can help you save money on interest while giving you ample time to settle your full balance. Note that you need to be careful using your card, especially if you intend to pay off your existing debt and not accumulate new ones.
When deciding which balance transfer business credit card is right for you, consider factors like the length of the introductory APR period, balance transfer fees, annual fees, and the card’s regular APR once the introductory period ends. You should also check whether you will benefit more from balance transfer business credit cards that offer rewards on your purchases.
No, they won’t, but while that is the case, opening a new credit card may harm your credit, as most card issuers will perform a hard inquiry on your credit score. Before deciding to apply for any of the best business credit cards for balance transfers, ensure that the advantages of opening a new card outweigh the possible damage it can do to your credit.
Yes, you can, as most business credit card issuers allow you to do so. However, you need to keep your business and personal financial transactions separate to avoid accounting and tax issues. If you have previously used your personal credit card for business-related expenses, make sure to keep a record of those transactions so you won’t get into trouble come tax time.
Bottom Line
Whether you’re self-employed or a small business owner, the best business credit card with a balance transfer offer gives you adequate time to pay down your debt from other credit cards without paying interest or a balance transfer fee. To maximize the 0% introductory offer, budget your monthly payment so that you’ll have paid off any high balances when the card switches to its regular APR.